By Emmanuel Ekebe
The Uzere Illustrious Group, last weekend, honoured a Real Estate business man and philanthropist, Prince Sam Ogrih for bagging the Vanguard Newspaper Real Estate Icon Personality of the Year Award 2025 that was held recently in Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the Group, comprising 27 illustrious sons and daughters of Uzere during the presentation ceremony of a framed photograph at the country home of the awardee in Uzere, Barr. Afor Irogbo said that “When Prince Sam Ogrih received the Vanguard Newspaper Real Estate icon personality of the year award, 2025, the Uzere Illustrious Group, both at home and in diaspora decided that he should also be honoured back home.
According to him, Prince Ogrih had been contributing so much towards the development of the Uzere community in several areas, including paying school and enrollment fees with school uniforms for students of the community over the years.
He also said that as a result of the honour bestowed on their illustrious son, the Group was formed and made a publication to congratulate him for the achievement.
He noted further that “Whenever Prince Ogrih is called concerning issues bothering the community, he always responds and takes full responsibility to ensure the right thing is being done”.
He asserted that after the publication on Vanguard Newspaper, the Group decided that they must do a large framed photograph for him to keep in his house, so that whenever he comes home, he will be reminded that the good things he was doing for his community were valued, adding that it will also help to motivate him to do more for the community.
On their part, High Chief Eta Enahoro, Chief John Araka and Chief Cleaver Daniel described Prince Sam Ogrih as an illustrious son of Isoko who had carved a niche for himself in the Real Estate business that Isoko nation must be proud of.
“He is a good son of Uzere, Isoko, Delta State and Nigeria who has washed his hands very clean and has been relating well with Presidents of nations, Kings and high personalities across the globe”.
They opined that among Realtors in Nigeria, Prince Ogrih was singled out for the award as a result of his commitment to hard work and excellence in the Real Estate business in Nigeria.
They also commended the Uzere Illustrious Group for deeming it fit to honour one of their own for his achievement, noting that they will ensure they emulate them in their various communities.
Responding, Prince Sam Ogrih said that he was overwhelmed with the honour bestowed on him by the Uzere Illustrious Group, stating that he never expected the kind of honour from them.
According to him, he now believed that a prophet can also be honoured in his home town.
He stated that those who knew him were aware he was born and raised in the Uzere community as he had his primary and secondary school education all in the Uzere community and that he does not have another place to call his home.
According to the Prince, “I have seen the pains of my community and life, never take anyone for granted, especially those who know their root. We have gone outside and most of our peers will tell us our great grandfathers and grandfathers were all graduates. They have seen a generation of over five graduates, but most of us are first generation of graduates. Now we are outside to rob shoulders with five or six generations of graduates, competing on the same space for the little resources that are available, and for that little space we have been able to write our name in a map”
He commended those who put the Uzere Illustrious Group together and urged them to be steadfast and ensure they sustain the momentum and the group.
Members of the Group present during the event were: High Chief Iduh Amadhe, Elder Daniel Olokor, Comrade Emmanuel Ekebe, Dr. Prosper Irogbo, Mr. Raphael Odorewu, President-General of Uzere, Austin Odorewu, Akora Solomon and Columbus Oguname amongst others.
